The Washington critic., 1887-03-30
WASHINGTON, MARCH 80, 1887.
THE PUBLIC BUSINESS UNDERGO
ING INSPECTIONS.

The Investigation OF the manage
ment of the various departments Of the
Government which has been entrusted
10 committee of the Senate promises
10 be Of the most searching and com.
prehensive character. Mr.. Cockrell,
the chairman of the committee, Is u
painstaking and conscientious man, aud
will see to II that the work to be nc.
complishCd Is not Of superficial or
whitewashlng character, us too fire.
quently happens wIlh similar inycsti.
cations.
The only fear we cn'rltaiu Is that
the programme laid out for the com.
mittee may enter too extensively into
details to be ethoroush'y covered during
the recess Of Congress- The circulars
which have been sent to the different
departments call for an immense
amount of labor, and the reports when
received will involve much additional
time and labor TO be properly sif,cd,
systemaliZed and summed up. But in
matter of this kind there needs to be
great particularly, and the deductions
of the committee will only be valuable
in proportion to the completeness OF
tbe information on which they are
based. The duties of the committee
will at best be laborious and it is fottu.
nate in having at it' head man who
has no faith In halfway methods.
The investigation is not instituted
with the view or expectation of uu.
earthing frauds and abuses, though
very likely some questionable practices
may be discovered here and there In
It's progress, but rather TO arrive at
clearer understanding than now exists
of the real workings Of our Govern.
mental machinery, together with Its
needs and defects. The belief is gen
cral, and in the main correct, that the
public business is carried on with
honesty and efficiency In all its depart
ments. Everything appears to move
like clock work, and instances of In.
competency or corruption are so rare
as TO inspire the country with con.
fidence and pride in its official servants.
II must be remembered, however,
that during the last twenty years the
country has advanced in all material
respects at an unprecedented rate.
The Government has outgrown the
comprehension of the people Ia the
vastness and Importance Of its ramii-
cations. Even the representatives of
the people in the halls of legislation
cannot keep pace with its progress and
close watch of lis workings.
1t is therefore highly proper that the
machinery which keeps the colossal
establishment in motion, should be
periodically ovorhauled and subjected
10 careful inspection. In no other way
can 1t he ascertalncd wherein changes
reforms and improvements are nrc.s
sary where expenditures on the one
hand are excessive, on the other Insult
ticieut-where methods need 10 bJ
simplifed or facilities Increased.
If 1t he true In some instances, rs I,
probably the case, that the Department,
have more work on hand than they car
DO well or with proper regard to the in
terests of the Government, or tha,
screws are loose which require to bl
tightened In order to expedite bust.
ness, or that anything anywhere is on
Of gear for which prompt legislativ,
provision should be made, we know o
no other way TO find 1t out so well a
through the investigation which is nov
going on.